The Incorporated Knight
Page 23
"Fresh from Master Yvain's greenhouse in Zurgau. I bethought me—"
"And that other packet; what's that?"
A shy smile crossed Eudoric's sober features as he set his packages on Baldonius' reading table. "Sweetmeats from Goodwife Ingunda's shop in Kromnitch. You see, I stopped in the town to sound out Count Petz on a joint enterprise of a new kind, whereof I learned from the Serican wizard. If we can persuade the Royal Locanian Council to amend the law, and enlist the support of men of substance, we can expand our carriage business, refurbish roads and inns, and vastly better conditions of travel in the kingdom. As it may chance, we also stand to make our fortunes."
"Indeed? How is this joint enterprise conducted?"
Eudoric explained the hong and its body of shareholders. "Thus, under the direction of leaders chosen by the holders of shares, these shareholders act as one individual, with far more effect than if they transacted their business separately."
"As if the group were merged into a single artificial person?"
"Precisely, Doctor. What would one call such an artificial person?"
Baldonius pondered. "In Helladic, the suitable word were 'corporation.' To form such a group would, I suppose, be termed 'to incorporate.' I see possibilities in this, my dear lad. If I could prevail upon some of my colleagues, such as Svanhalla and even that faker Calporio, to join me in setting up a similar group to bring order to the practice of magic ..."
"I wish you all success. And now, where's Lusina?"
Baldonius picked up a book, riffled through the pages, and drew out a folded and sealed sheet of parchment. "One more matter, which meseems next in order of urgency. Yesterday a messenger came by, after a long and furious ride from Letitia, with a letter for you, bearing the seal of some high and mighty person. Here it is."
Eudoric took the folded parchment. "Grammercy. But why left he the letter here 'stead of at the castle?"
"He stopped to inquire the way, and I told him I'd deliver it to you. Methought ye'd prefer to have it out of the reach of meddlesome kin."
Eudoric laughed. "How well you know my mother! She'd have had it open in one heartbeat. I suspect who this missive's author be." He broke the seal."It must have cost her a pretty penny." He fell silent as he scanned the letter.
"Bad news?" asked Baldonius.
Eudoric shook his head. "I'll read it aloud, since it may concern matters of moment to the twain of us." He read:
-
H.R.H. Yolanda of Franconia to Sir Eudoric Dambertson of Arduen.
Dearest:
When I returned from Letitia, I found all my husbands flown like caitiff knaves. Had any been within my grasp, he should have smarted for it; but what's done is done. When I had recovered from the shock, it struck me that, of all the four, I regretted the flight of only one.
I must tell you that, of the lot, you are the only one I could truly have loved, since you are neither stupid like Gontran, nor lewd like Landwin, nor yet old and reclusive like Sugerius. You are he for whom I yearn by day and by night. You are therefore commanded to return forthwith to your adoring spouse's arms.
As for the delicate legal points arising from the revival of your predecessors, transforming me from a virtuous widow to a polygamist, I have the word of the Archimandrite that there shall be no difficulties. We shall have a proper legal marriage, wherein I will endeavor to make you the happiest husband ever. I am not unaware of my faults, which I swear to overcome. Only come back! You cannot abandon me after all we have endured together. I love you!
Yolanda
-
"Belike she does," said Eudoric, thoughtfully refolding the missive, "as far as she loves aught but power. But it matters not to me."
"I grasp the nib," said Baldonius, "although I burn to hear the rest of the story. Where stood ye in the file of husbands?"
"I was the fourth; or so I was told. She had stricken my predecessors with a fixative spell, which kept them statuelike in a cryptic chamber. Of her quartet of nuptials, only the first has any claim to validity. But of that, more anon. Where can I find Lusina?"
"Oho! So that's the why of those unseasonable posies! I might have guessed."
Eudoric's face showed a worried frown. "Has she another suitor?"
"Nay. A brace of local swains have asked my leave to pay her their addresses, but she denied them. She hath never forgiven herself for her folly."
Indulgently, Eudoric smiled. "Who can go through life with never an indiscretion? I have committed more than I care to think about."
"Even my prudent, calculating pupil hath gone astray?"
"Aye; but I strive never to commit the same blunder twice."
"What wilt do about that letter? I must know, if ye think of courting my chick."
"I shall ignore it. As saith Helvolius the Wise, only a fool pets a biting dog a second time. Emmerhard's lawyer, Doctor Rupman, has assured me that any spousal claims by Yolanda would have no more weight in the Empire than a puff of smoke. If my business compel me to visit Letitia again. I shall be most careful not to cross paths with this overweening witch-princess. But about Lusina—"
"She's in her room in back. Take care that she flee not at sight of you."
"However fast she run, I'll follow faster," said Eudoric as he picked up his presents and hastened down the passage.
Baldonius chuckled softly. He adjusted his spectacles and opened his great iron-bound encyclopedia to "Incorporation."
The End
* * * * * *
Book information
APPLY IT NOT
ERE I GIVE THE WORD!
As if answering a challenge, a deep grunt rumbled down the frail. While Jillo secured the horses, Eudoric laid out his new equipment and methodically loaded his weapon.
"Here if comes," said Eudoric as he detected the vibrations of a heavy tread through his boot soles. "Stand by with that torch. Apply it not ere I give the word!"
The dragon came into view, plodding along the trail and swinging its head from side to side. Having newly shed its skin, the creature gleamed like fresh paint, its hide bearing a reticular pattern of green and black. Its great, golden, slit-pupiled eyes focused keenly on the hunters.
The horses screamed; the dragon speeded its approach.
"Ready?" said Eudoric, settling the weapon in its rest.
"Aye, sir. Here goeth!" Without awaiting further command, Jillo applied the torch to the touchhole.
With a great boom and a cloud of smoke, the device discharged, rocking Eudoric back a pace. Through the dissipating smoke, the dragon appeared still rushing towards them.
"Idiot!" screamed Eudoric. "You were not to give fire until I commanded! You've made me miss it clean!"
"I'm s-sorry, sir. I was palsied with fear. What shall we do now?"
"Run, fool!"
THE
INCORPORATED
KNIGHT
L. Sprague and
Catherine
Crook
de Camp
Distributed in Canada by PaperJacks Ltd., a Licensee
of the trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
THE INCORPORATED KNIGHT
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 1987 by L. Sprague de Camp
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.
A Baen Book
In Canada distributed by Paper Jacks Ltd.,
330 Steelcase Read, Markham, Ontario
First Baen printing, September 1988
Chapters I and II first appeared as the story "Two Yards of Dragon" in the anthology Flashing Swords! #3, copyright © 1976 by Lin Carter.
Chapter III first appeared as "The Coronet" in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, v. 51, n. 5, Nov. 1976, copyright © by Mercury Press, Inc.
Chapter IV first appeared as "Spider Love" in
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, v. 53, n. 5, Nov. 1977, copyright © 1977 by Mercury Press, Inc.
Chapter V first appeared as "Eudoric's Unicorn" in the anthology The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 3, copyright © 1977 by Daw Books, Inc.
All these stories have been revised for the present volume.
ISBN: 0-671-65435-7
Cover art by Dan Home
Printed in Canada
Distributed by
SIMON & SCHUSTER
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, N.Y. 10020
-
To Jeanne and Paul Maguire,
whose lively imagination
gave us our title
* * * * * *
Back cover
THE
INCORPORATED
KNIGHT
It's never easy being a knight, especially for practical Eudoric Dambertson, whose mind and temperament are better suited to trade than to the highly impractical demands of chivalry. Take the simple matter of courting a wife. To please his potential father-in-law, the enchanter Baldonius, the young man must bring back two square yards of dragon hide. Only then can he earn his knightly spurs and the hand of the beauteous Lusina. But battles with dragons always seem to go better in the ballads ...
Booklist: "With an abundance of verbal pyrotechnics, the de Camps have meshed together a rollicking series of misadventures starring Eudoric Dambertson, Esquire: slayer of dragons, killer of majestic spiders, pursuer of unicorns."
Publishers Weekly: "Most enjoyable."